Car-coupling.



v No. 722,267.

:P'ATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

J. & J. O. TIMMS.

GAR COUPLING.

7 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

N0 MODEL.

VENTORS Allarn'ey TN: ems PETERS ed, PNOfD-LITHQ. wasumafom n. n.

PATE NTED MAR. 10, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET a.

jYVENTQRS'QIQ/ 0m WW Atlorney J. & 0. TIMMS. 'GAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

W TNESSES \U if, 9%?

Unrrnn Sterne Parent FFIYCE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 722,267, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed September 25, 1902. $er fl 0- 124.836. (N0 model-) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 'we, JAMES TIMMs and JAMES O. TIMMS, of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car- Couplings; and we do hereby declare the fol lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to an improvement in car-couplings, the object of the improvement being to provide simple and efficient means for throwing the knuckle into its open position and a knuckle of such construction as will facilitate its being thrown into its open position.

A further object is to furnish the knuckle and coupling-head with bearings constructed and arranged to effectually withstand the butting strains to which they are subjected.

Another object is to provide a lock-set for the locking-block and means for automatically disengaging the locking-block from its lock-set.

WVith these objects in view the invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be here,- inafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View in horizontal section of a car-coupling embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal Vertical section, taken on the line was of Fig. 1, with the knuckle and locking-block in their locked positions. Fig. 3 is a similar view representing the relative position of parts when the knuckle has been thrown to its open position. Fig. 4: represents the position of the locking-block when upheld by its lock-set. Figs. 5 and 6 are detached views of a modification.

A is a coupling-head, and B is a knuckle mounted to rotate on the pivotal pin a. The jaw of the coupling-head is constructed with a flat hearing I), which is inwardly inclined to the point I), where it intersects the curved bearing 19 which is formed concentric with the pivotal bearing of the knuckle. The knuckle is constructed with similar bearings c c. Vhen the outer face 0 of the nose of the knuckle is subjected to a butting strain,

such strain or shock will be resisted by the fiatinclined bearings b c on the coupling-head and knuckle, and owing to the inclination of such bearing-faces they will tend to or will, in effect, cause such buffing strains to be transmitted in part and resisted by the curved bearings b 0. Hence it will be noted that the bufi'ing strains are resisted by two sets of bearings, which are arranged at an angle to one another, one set of bearings being curved and the other flat.

The knuckle is constructed with a tailpiece D, the rear end 01 of which is received within a pocket or extension d, formed in the Wall of the coupling-head. The rear edge or wall E of the knuckle is made straight or practically straight or inwardly curved and is formed at such an angle of inclination that the distance of the rear edge or wall E from the pivotal center of the knuckle gradually decreases from the front end 6 to the rear end 6 of the tail of the knuckle.

F is the locking-block and is'located wholly within the housing of the coupler-head. The upper and angular portionf constitutes the effective portion of the block for locking the knuckle and is guided and supported by the front and side walls 9 g on the inside of the coupling-head. One side of the locking-block is constructed with a vertical groove 9 which receives the projection g on the forward end of the tail of the knuckle when the latter is in its locked position. To the rear side of the locking-block is pivotally connected a metal link G at the point h, located near the side opposite the overweight portion h and at any desired distance from the upper end of the locking-block. A downwardly-projecting extension H on the locking-block is provided with a beveled end H, which is adapted to fit upon the downwardly-inclined seat H formed in the side wall of the coupling-head. When the strap or link G is raised, the locking-block is raised thereby, and owing to the fact that it is weighted on one side at its upper end it will tilt on its pivotal bearing 71 and assume the position shown in Fig. 4E and cause its beveled end H to enter and seat itself within the inclined seat H and thus retain the locking-block in its raised and unlocked position. When the locking-block is thus supported by its lockset, the knuckle is free to rotate to its open position.

The upper surface of the tail of the knuckle is provided with a raised rib I, which from the point i to the point 7; is formed on such a curve as will permit the knuckle to partly rotate without engaging the locking-block and disturbing the lock-set. At the point i a sharp curve is formed in the rib, and from such point to the rear end 1' the rib is formed in such a curve as will cause it to engage the locking-block. The function of the rib is as follows: When the locking-block is supported on its lock-set, the shoulderK on thelocking-block is located above and over the tail of the knuckle, but out of contact therewith. When the knuckle is rotated on its pivot-pin in being thrown into its open position, the sharp curved portion 2' of the rib will strike the overweighted side of the locking-block and move it laterally and into a vertical position, with the result that the lower and beveled end H of the block will be moved laterally in the opposite direction and disengaged from its seat, Which will permit the shoulder of the locking-block to drop and rest upon the upper surface of the tail of the knuckle. In order to provide the locking-block with a support on the tail of the knuckle throughout its entire range of [110"61116l1t, the tail is provided with a laterally-projecting flange L of such form that it will serve to support the locking-block during the entire movement of the knuckle and until it has been moved to its closed position, when the locking-block will drop off from the front end of the tail and lock the knuckle. This flange is upwardly inclined from about the middle of the knuckle arm or tail to its rear side or edge and serves to raise the locking-block a sufficient distance to lift it from its lock-set, while the rib on the knuckle-arm moves the locking-block laterally asufficient distance to disengage it from its lock-set and allow it to seat itself on the tail of the knuckle, where, as already stated, it will be supported until the knuckle is closed, when the locking-block will fall and lock the knuckle.

M is a knuckle-opening lever, which is pivoted at M and near its upper end to one side of the locking-block. The upper arm m of this lever is rearwardly curved and projects above the upper end of the locking-block. The lower and long arm of lever M is rearwardly curved and is provided with a slot m to receive the outwardly and upwardly projecting flanged seatL on the tail of the knuckle and is constructed with a bearing-surface N on its lower end, which may be slightly curved, as shown.

The operation of the kn uckle-opening lever is as follows: When the knuckle is locked, the lower end of lever M projects below the rear side of the tail of the knuckle, near its forward end. When the lockingblock is raised a suflicient distance to engage it with .its lock-set, the upper and short arm of lever M is brought nearly, but not quite, into contact with the upper wall of the coupling-head, and hence the lever is not brought into action or in any wise moved or disturbed; but the locking-block if raised a little higher will cause the upper and short arm m of the lever M to engage the upper wall of the couplinghead, with the result that the lower and longer arm of the lever will be forced outwardly and by its engagement with the rear wall E on the tail of the knuckle will operate to positively throw the latter into its open position. By making the rear wall or bearing E inclined from its front to its rear end it enables the knuckle-opening lever to move continuously outward as the knuckle is rotated and to exert a continuous outward pressure on the tail of the knuckle until the latter has been thrown into its open position. Owing to the fact that a comparatively slight downward movement of the upper and short arm of lever M will operate to throw the lower and longer arm of the lever outwardly a considerable distance it is only necessary to raise the locking-block a slight distance above its unlocked position in order to insure sufficient movement of lever M to throw the knuckle into its open position.

In the event of the breakage of the drawbar or its connections, which would result in the draw-bar and coupling being withdrawn and detached from the car, the link or strap pivotally connected at one end to the lockingblock and at its other end to the crank-shaft on the car is sufficiently flexible to permit it to bend and pull the locking-block upwardly and unlock the knuckle, and thus uncouple the cars, which would instantly relieve the broken draw-bar of all pulling strain and prevent it from being detached and falling on the track.

Instead of pivoting lever M to the lockingblock it may be pivoted in the upper portion of the coupling-head, as represented in Figs. 5 and 6. In this construction the lever is bent or constructed with an inclined portion 0, while its lower end is adapted to engage the rear wall of the tail of the knuckle. The side of the locking-block is provided with a stud P. When the locking-block has'been raised to its unlocked position, its further upward movement will cause the stud P to engage the incline O on the lever M and throw the lower end of the lever outward and rotate the knuckle into its open position.

It is evident that many slight changes in the construction and relative arrangement of parts of our improvement might. be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, and hence we would have it understood that we do not restrict ourselves to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described; but,

I-Iaving fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

-1. A car-coupling comprising a swinging knuckle, a vertically-moving locking-block, means for locking the block when raised to its unlocked position, and a knuckle-opening lever adapted to be actuated by the lockingblock when raised to disengage it from its lock-set and positively throw the knuckle into its open position, substantially as set forth.

2. A car-coupling, a swinging knuckle constructed with a tailpiece the rear edge or wall of which is gradually inclined toward thepivotal center of the knuckle from its front to its rear end, said edge or wall not projecting in rear of a straight line drawn from its front to its rear edge, and a knuckle-operating lever adapted to be actuated by the lockingblock, substantially as set forth.

3. In a car-coupling comprising a swinging knuckle constructed with a tailpiece the rear edge or Wall of which is gradually inclined forwardly from its front to its rear end and is provided with an outwardly projecting flange for supporting the locking-block, a vertically-moving locking-block, means for automatically locking and supporting the locking-block in its unlocked position and out of contact with the knuckle, and a knuckleopening lever adapted to be actuated by the locking-block when raised above and out of contact with its lock-set, substantially as set forth.

4. A car-coupling comprising a swinging knuckle constructed with a tailpiece having its rear edge or wall gradually inclined forwardly from its front to its rear end and provided with an outwardly-projecting flange for supporting the locking-block, of a knuckleopening lever pivoted to the locking-block, one end of said lever adapted to engage the wall of the coupling-head, and the other, the inclined edge or wall on the tail of the knuckle, substantially as set forth.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination with the coupling-head, a swinging knuckle, and a vertically-movable locking-block, of a knuckle-opening lever pivoted to the lockingblock, one arm of the lever extending above the locking-block and adapted to engage the upper wall of the coupling-head, substantially as set forth.

6. In a car-coupling, the combination with a coupling-head, swinging knuckle and vertically-movable locking-block, of a knuckleopening lever pivoted, to the lockingblock, the short arm of the lever projecting above 1 the locking-block and its long arm projecting downwardly and adapted to engage the rear side or Wall of the tail of the knuckle, substantially as set forth.

'7. Acar-coupling knuckle constructed with a tailpiece having a rear wall that is gradually inclined forwardly from its front to its rear end, and disposed inside a straight line drawn from front to the rear end of the tailpiece, substantially as set forth.

8. A car-coupling knuckle constructed with a tailpiece having a rear wall that. is gradually inclined forwardly from its front to its rear end, said wall being disposed in or within a straight line drawn from the front to the rear end of the tailpiece, the tailpiece also being provided with an outwardly-projecting flange which gradually increases in Width from the front to the rear end of the tailpiece, substantially as set forth.

9. A car-coupling comprising a knuckle having a tailpiece the rear Wall of which is gradually inclined from its front to its rear end and is provided with a rearwardly-projecting flange the upper surface of which is flush with the upper surface of the knuckle and of gradually-increasing width from the front to the rear end of the tailpiece, a vertically-movable locking-block adapted to be supported in its unlocked position by said rearwardly-projecting flange, and a knuckleopening lever for throwing the knuckle open, substantially as set forth.

10. A car-coupling comprising a swinging knuckle, a vertically-movable locking-block constructed to tilt when raised and automatically engage a seat on the wall of the coupling-head, and a knuckle-throwing lever pivoted to the locking-block, one end of said lever adapted to engage the wall of the coupling-head and the other, the tail of the knuckle and throw the knuckle into its open position, substantially as set forth.

11. A car-coupling knuckle provided with a tail having its rear wall gradually inclined forwardly from its front to its rear end, an outwardly-projecting flange, the upper surface of the tail being upwardly inclined from its front to its rear end, substantially as set forth.

12. A car-coupling knuckle comprising a coupling-head, a tailpiece, and buffing-shoulders, the latter being formed on the upper and lower sides of the knuckle and located between the coupling-head and tailpiece, each of said buffing-shoulders comprising an inwardly inclined straight shoulder and a o u rved shoulder intersecting with the straight shoulder, substantially as set forth.

13. Acar-coupling comprising a swinging knuckle, a vertically-movable locking-block and a knuckle-throwing lever pivoted to the innerside of the locking-block, the upper end of said lever projecting above the lockingblock, and adapted to engage the upper wall of the coupling-head, and the lower end of the lever constructed to engage the tail of the knuckle, substantially as set forth.

14. A car-coupling comprising a swinging knuckle having a tail provided with an inclined rear wall and an outwardly-projecting flange, a vertically-movable locking-block, and a knuckle-throwing lever pivoted to the locking-block, the upper end of the lever being rearwardly bent or curved, and its lower end recessed for the reception of the flange on the tail of the knuckle, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with a coupling-head.

provided with a seat forsupporting the locking-block in its unlocked position, of a vertically-movable locking-block having its upper end overweighted on one side and provided with a bearing adapted to engage in the seat on the coupling-head and a link or strap pivot-ally connected to thelocking-block below its upper end whereby the lockingblock on being raised will tilt on its pivotal bearing and cause its bearing to engage the seat on the coupling-head, substantially as set forth.

16. A car-coupling comprising a vertically- Inovable locking-block provided with a projecting seat, an undercut seat on the wall of the coupling-head, and a swinging knuckle provided with a raised cam-shaped rib and an upwardly-inclined surface on the upper surface of its tail, for moving the lockingblock laterally and vertically to disengage it from its lock-set, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with a coupling-head,

JAMES TIMMS. JAMES O. TIMMS.

Witnesses:

J AOOB KIMMER, L. B. TUSSING. 

